Truckee Fire and Placer County Lawsuit — Truckee Fire Protection District

The Truckee Fire Protection District is battling a critical funding shortfall that directly impacts district residents’ pocketbooks, safety, fire insurance rates and more.

Here's why residents should be highly concerned:

Your tax dollars are subsidizing fire protection for high-end luxury developments in nearby Martis Valley while our fire stations are falling into disrepair.

Here's what's happening:

Placer County has approved over $4 billion in luxury development in the Martis Valley area (including Martis Camp, Schaffer’s Mill, and a portion of Lahontan) but is refusing to provide the fire district that serves this area with the tax funding needed to protect these communities. They're essentially getting fire service for free, leaving taxpayers in the rest of the district to foot the bill, and putting everyone in the region at risk.

Placer County has pocketed well over $100 million in property taxes from high income Martis Valley communities (Martis Camp, Schaffer's Mill and a portion of Lahontan) – while refusing to pay a dime for their fire protection. They're getting premium fire service for free, and you're paying for it.

Why it Matters:

Truckee Fire needs additional revenue to pay for deferred maintenance and to continue to provide premium fire service to homes and businesses in the district. Placer County would prefer we ask taxpayers districtwide to approve a new property tax so that the district can have sufficient funds to fund services in Lahontan, Martis Camp and Schaffer’s Mill. However, there is no need. This isn't just about money. It's about public safety and basic fairness. Every time Truckee Fire responds to calls for emergency or fire services in Martis Camp, Schaffer's Mill, or portions of Lahontan, the rest of our district’s residents are subsidizing protection for these wealthy communities.

There is no need for an additional tax burden to be placed on Truckee residents – as Placer County would prefer. Placer County has already collected substantial tax revenue, they just need to allocate it – something they promised to do, in writing, in 1997. They never followed through and this budget gap is now impacting the important services that we provide, our facilities and fire insurance rates.

What's at Stake:

When emergencies strike, our crews are stretched dangerously thin
Critical equipment repairs are being delayed and the cost of new equipment is rising exponentially
Your home insurance rates are rising
Emergency response times are at risk

The Backstory:

We've spent over 28 years trying to resolve this through negotiation. Meanwhile, Placer County keeps approving new development without addressing the fire protection funding gap. It's like letting someone tap into your water supply – they get the service, but you get the bill.

The Bottom Line:

Your safety shouldn't be compromised because Placer County won't pay its fair share. We're taking legal action because we've run out of options – and because your family's safety is worth fighting for.

Frankly, we’re frustrated and outraged. The rest of the community should be too. We see litigation as an imperfect, inefficient, and expensive tool of last resort. But all other options have been exhausted.

Take Action Now:

1. Share this information and URL with your neighbors

2. Click here to contact Placer County supervisors

Frequently Asked Questions

Placer County has permitted over $4 billion in development in the Martis Valley area without providing equitable and sustainable fire protection funding to our district. This has resulted in tens of millions of dollars in unpaid funding over life of the developments, with about $4 million continuing to accrue annually. This directly impacts our ability to maintain appropriate service levels for the entire community.
The funding shortfall affects:
- Ability to add staff and stations in the district
- Equipment and facility maintenance/upgrades
- Implementation of vital fire prevention programs
- Emergency response times
- Property insurance rates for residents (through ISO ratings)
Placer County’s General Plan and environmental reviews (dated 2003) specifically outlined that fire protection for Martis Valley development would be funded through property tax allocation, and confirmed this funding would be sufficient for increased demand as the area developed. This approach is detailed in county documents and supported by a 1997 letter.

See the highlighted table for key details here.
The Fire District has been working to resolve this issue with Placer County for over 28 years through various channels. In 1997, Placer County actually agreed in writing to include the assessed value and future growth of Annexation #7 in our funding calculations, but has not followed through on this commitment.
While pursuing litigation against another government entity is never our preferred course of action, due to a lack of corrective action, we are left with no alternative. The situation continues to worsen because the County continues to approve new development in Martis Valley without ensuring proper funding mechanisms are in place for fire service to the developments. Each year, we pay for the growing expense to provide fire service to the developments in Martis Valley using taxpayer funds collected from other areas of the district. Property owners in Martis Valley provide almost no help with these expenses.
We want to assure our community that this legal action will not affect our commitment to providing the highest level of fire protection and emergency services possible. We will continue to serve all areas within our district with the same level of dedication and professionalism.

Where can I learn more?

Anyone interested in more detailed information about this issue, can submit questions using the form below and we will get back to you.

Note: This is an ongoing legal matter. While we are committed to transparency with our community, some aspects of this case cannot be discussed in detail during the litigation process. This FAQ will be updated as new information becomes available.